Center needs vote

Without a public vote, it’s hard to say whether there is significant

community dissent against the civic center project or the means that

is proposed to finance it: the issuance of certificates of

participation that will encumber the Newport Beach budget by more

than $3 million a year for 30 years, or close to $100 million.

Certainly there were significant numbers of people protesting the

project and the expense of it during the town hall meetings earlier

this year. Since the City Council has already approved the project

despite the dissent and proclaimed that the people were not going to

get to vote on it, it’s like getting up to talk to a bunch of potted

plants at this point. The City Council is not going to change its

mind. In the traditional Newport way, it’s now up to the residents to

preserve their right to vote on major projects by the initiative

process.

I’m very much in favor of bringing this project to a public vote.

The City Council wants us, our children and our grandchildren to pay

more than $3 million a year for 30 years for the City Hall. What will

be cut in the budget to pay for this expenditure? Traffic and street

improvements? Police and firefighter salaries? Parks acquisition and

improvements? Ball fields? Senior services? Recreational programs?

Back Bay dredging? Rhine Channel cleanup?

Something else has to give to afford $3 million a year for 30

years. People should be given the chance to vote on this project and

the certificates of participation that are used to get around the

requirements for a bond issue that would have to go to a public vote.

Require two-thirds approval to boot.

Maybe Newport Beach residents will approve the expenditure of this

money for 30 years. Maybe not. But at least they should have a chance

to vote on it.

JAN D. VANDERSLOOT

Newport Beach